Releasable marine anchor



July 24, 1962 w. M. SARNS RELEASABLE MARINE ANCHOR Filed March 1, 1961IN V EN TOR:

WILLIAM M. SARNS rates This invention relates to the construction ofanchors intended primarily for the use with small boats. The socalledpatent anchor-a name commonly given to the general type of anchor havingflukes which are rotatable within a limited sector with respect to theshank of the anchor-has come into very wide acceptance as a result ofthe tremendous holding power of this design for a given weight. Thelimited rotatability of the flukes with respect to the shank causes theanchor to dig in, regardless of the of movement across the bottom.

A problem has arisen, however, which is actually the result of theextremely efficient action of the anchor. Once the anchor becomes deeplyembedded, it is quite a project to withdraw it when the anchor israised. Normal procedure in this regard is to haul in the anchor linewith the boat in the position directly above the anchor. If normallifting forces do not succeed in withdrawing it, the anchor line may becleated on the boat, and the boat moved in a direction opposite fromwhich the anchor was originally engaged. If the boat has been heldduring fairly heavy Weather, even this procedure is sometimesinadequate. The problem is particularly aggravated in situationsinvolving adverse bottom conditions such as rocks, tree stumps, sunkenlogs, etc. The limited sector of rotation of the flukes with respect tothe shank creates a hook-shaped relationship in side elevation whichalmost prevents removal. Many are the anchors that have been left inplace after several attempts to remove it, with the cost of the anchorline being added to that of the anchor itself as an investment lostbeyond recovery.

Applicant has found that it is entirely practical to incorporate in theusual articulating anchor an arrangement for establishing the sector offree movement with respect to the shank through a torque-limiting devicerather than a positive stop. The particular torque is establishedaccording to the needs of the boat and the bottom characteristics, andthe net result is that a securely-embedded anchor can be released veryeasily. A heavy vertical pull on the anchor will create a torque on theshank in excess of the established limit, and will then permit theflukes to move to a feathered position trailing behind the shank. Thiswill permit very easy withdrawal, regardless of the conditions of theretention of the anchor. If this directlift procedure proves to beinadequate, the cleating of the anchor line and the maneuvering of theboat under power or oars Will almost invariably succeed in swinging theanchor to the feathering position and pulling it free.

The several features of the invention will be analyzed in further detailthrough a discussion of the particular embodiments illustrated in theaccompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 presents a perspective view of an articulating anchor embodyingthis invention.

FIGURE 2 presents a plan view, partially in section, showing the normalholding position of the anchor.

FIGURE 3 is a view in side elevation of the unit in the position shownin FIGURE 2, FIGURES 2 and 3 being in projection.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, partially in section, showing the anchor in aposition outside the normal sector of rotation of the flukes,corresponding to the movement toward the feathered position.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the unit in the position shown in FIGURE4, FIGURES 4 and 5 being in projection.

atcnt ice FIGURE 6 is a section on an enlarged scale on the plane VI-VIof FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a view on the plane VIIVII of FIG URE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a view on the plane VIII-VIII of FIG- URE 5.

Referring to the drawing, the illustrated articulating anchor includes ashank '10 having a central hub 11 carrying the pin 12 on which theflukes 13 and 14 are rotatably mounted. Referring particularly to FIGURE7, the flukes are provided with a lateral extension along the pin 12 asshown at 15 and 16, these extensions being received within the hub 11.

The flukes are preferably axially slidable along the pin 12, and areurged together through the action of the spring 17. The nut 18 and thehead 19 of the pin 12 retain the flukes in engagement with the pin, withthe spring establishing a tendency to drive both flukes toward the hub11. This action tends to maintain the engagement of the V- shapedsurfaces 20 and 21 on the extensions 15 and 16 of the flukes,respectively, which causes the flukes to maintain a position in the sameplane. The spring action has the additional function of bringing theabutments 22 and 23 into engagement with the opposite abutment 24 on theshank to establish the normal free sector of rotation of the fluke 13with respect to the shank. Similarly, the abutments 25 and 26 areengaged by the shank abutment 27 to establish the normal freearticulation of the fluke 14. It is preferable that the plates 28 and 29be cast integrally with the flukes 13 and 14, respectively, and theabutments 22, 23, 25, and 26 may be integrally cast or provided as addedcomponents.

The engagement of the fluke and shank abutments will establish areleasable limit for determining the normal sector of articulation ofthe flukes with respect to the shank, but this releasable limit isdetermined by the force provided by the spring 17. If a torque deliveredto the anchor as a result of a severe pull on the anchor line exceedsthe limit established by the abutments and the spring, the result willbe a compression of the spring 17 to a degree which Will permit flukeabutments to move over and around the shank abutments. The anchor willthen move at least partially to a feathering position in which theflukes trail from the pin in a direction opposite from the line oftension established by the shank It The formation of the ends 20 and 21on the fluke extensions within the hub 11 is such as to create a camaction tending to separate the flukes against the action of the spring'17 to facilitate the movement of the fluke abuments around the shankabutments, particularly when only one fluke becomes engaged with someform of bottom irregularity. In any event, the formation of these willestablish a tendency to operate as a key to maintain the relativeangular position of the flukes about the pin, and will provide arestorative action tending to re-align the flukes after they have beendisplaced.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have beenillustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only andare not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appendedclaims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire inventiondisclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. An anchor comprising: a shank having a hub with a central bore; a pintraversing said bore; fluke means rotatably and slideably mounted onsaid pin on opposite sides of said shank, said fluke means havingaxially interengageable key means to maintain the relative angularposition thereof about said pin; interengageable abutment means on saidshank and fluke means, respectively, to define opposite extremes ofnormal freedom of angular movement between said shank and fluke means,said abutment means having configuration tending on engagement to induceaxial separation between said shank and fluke means; and biasing meansincluding a coiled compression spring surrounding said pin urging saidshank and fluke means axially together.

2. An anchor comprising: a shank having a hub with a central bore; a pintraversing said bore; fluke means rotatably and slideably mounted onsaid pin on opposite sides of said shank; interengagea-ble abutmentmeans on said shank and fluke means, respectively, to define oppositeextremes of normal freedom of angular movement between said shank andfluke means, said abutment means having configuration tending onengagement to induce axial separation between said shank and flukemeans; and biasing means including a coiled compression springsurrounding said pin urging said shank and fluke means axially together.

3. An anchor comprising: a shank; a pin traversing said shank; flukemeans rotatably and slideably mounted on said pin; interengageableabutment means on said shank and fluke means, respectively, to defineopposite extremes of normal freedom of angular movement between saidshank and fluke means, said abutment means having configuration tendingon engagement to induce axial separation between said shank and flukemeans; and biasing means urging said shank and fluke means axiallytogether.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

